The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The government will have to import about 10 lakh metric tons of rice as the current food stock will shrink from March, the Food and Disaster Management Secretary said Monday, against the backdrop of huge crop losses in calamities.

Briefing reporters on the cyclone 'Sidr' and its aftermath at the ministry, Secretary Mohammad Ayub Mia said that, under the circumstances, it would be useful for Bangladesh if donor countries offered aid in terms of food.

He requested donor countries which want to donate rice to Bangladesh in aid of the calamity victims to buy it from outside market.

'If they (donors) buy rice from local market, it would affect government food stock," he said, adding that the current stock is 7.35 metric tons against 6.29 metric tons of the corresponding period of last year.

Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakraborty today met the Food Secretary to inform that the Indian government removed restrictions on import of 50,000 metric tons of Indian rice by Bangladesh.

He said India would donate 40,000 metric tons of rice and 10,000 metric tons of wheat worth $ 22 million. Besides, New Delhi will give 1000 metric tons of milk powder and relief goods, including ready-to-eat food, worth one million US dollars.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the leveler 'Sidr' rose today to 3,243 from 3,161 with the compilation of new casualties from Barguna, one of the worst-hit districts.

Mia said 880 people were still missing following the cyclone that battered country's 15 coastal districts.